As a citizen of Ontario, I…

As a citizen of Ontario, I am deeply disappointed by the Ford government's destructive and ill conceived approach to trying to boost Ontario's economy through the introduction of Bill 5. What the Ford government has actually gone and done, is set all Ontarians back by lighting a match to any trust that might have been building between Crown authorities, industry, and First Nations in Ontario that is necessary for the long term success of any major land-based project in the province.

It was announced in January 2025 that terms of reference had already been established by First Nations in the Ring of Fire region (one of the designated economic zones ) including those in the James Bay Lowlands area downstream from any possible RoF development. This was progress!! These nations have publicly stated that they are not necessarily opposed to development but want to ensure their right to meaningful consultation is respected to ensure optimal outcomes for all parties including mitigation of any actual or potential adverse environmental and social impacts related to development that a fulsome impact assessment could delineate. There are too many examples to site where First Nations have failed to benefit from industrial development and have in fact been very seriously harmed by business activities on or near to their lands, mercury poisoning of Grassy Narrows First Nation being only one such example. But now, energy and resources by First Nations in Ontario have instead been poured into opposition to Bill 5 equating to a major distraction from the collaborative work we should actually be undertaking to expedite the responsible development of our shared resources.

Please do better, Ontario Conservatives. Please step down from pushing Bill 5 forward and fulfil your Crown duty under Canada's constitution to undertake meaningful consultation with First Nations leaders on how we can move things forward together to achieve our collective goals.